Sanatana means "eternal," never beginning nor ending. Dharma is from "dhri," meaning to "hold together," to "sustain." Sanatana Dharma eternally holds All together. The universal flow of Dharma, regardless of what name you call it, whether Dharma or some other name, has eternally existed. It has been before any of the great teachers were born. It is not better than, or alternative to, but is inclusive of all. Dharma is that out of which our earth and humanity itself emerged. Dharma not only is, but always was, and always will be. To live in alignment with, and to know the true nature of that Sanatana Dharma is one of the ways of describing the higher goal of life.From: SwamiJ.com:http://www.swamij.com